Improvement in watch-keys



UNITED STATES JAMES L. MOORE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN lWATCH-KEYS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,982, dated July ll, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES L.MOORE, of Bridgeport, in the county of Faireld and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improved latch-Key 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making' part of this specification, in which Figurel is aperspective `view of thekey. Fig. 2 shows the key without its collar. Fig. 3 shows the key with its collar applied and its ends completely closed. Figs. 4 and 5 are end views of the key. y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a watch-key of a single piece of metal grooved and bent so as to form a looped handle and a straight barrel, in combination with a collar or other suitable means for holding together the two parts forming the barrel, as will be hereiJiaft-er explained.

The following description will enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention:

I take a piece of half-round wire of proper gauge and length and force it between groovingrolls so as to form a V-shaped groove into its flat side. I then bend the wire thus grooved so as to form a handle, A, terminating in the grooved barrel portions ay a, which latter, when brought together, by means of acollar, B, or by any other means, will form the socketed barrel of the key.

The drawing represents a watch-key having its barrelportion a a, tapered and screw-threaded at b .1), upon which a init-collar, B, is applied. This adjustable collar on the tapered split barrel will allow the portions a ay to be adjusted farther apart or nearer together, thus adapting the rectangular socket of the key to winding studs of different sizes, and also allowing the socket to be readily cleaned of anything which might get into it.

I do not confine myself to the adjusting collar B, as the barrel portions a a may be permanently secured together by a collar or ring where it is not desired to make an adjustable key-barrel.

The great advantages of my key are its cheapness and the facility with which it can bemanufactined.. Another advantage attending the key is that the rectangular socket is entirely through the barrel, and can therefore be readily cleaned whether the two parts forming the barrel be adjustable or rigidly secured together.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A uf'atch-key with socket and handle, made by grooving and bending a piece of metal as described, and having the socketed portion held together by a collar or ring, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES L. MOORE.

W'itnesses:

HENRY EDwARDs, EDGAR G. SPINNING. 

